Tuesday, 12 November 2013

And now for something completely different

As a bit of a change from squinting at tiny blobs of slightly uncomfortably soft plastic, here's something a bit larger and more metallic: a Copplestone Future Wars Security Guard, (now sold by EM4 miniatures).

This is the first of three models I picked up some years ago. My original plan was to go for a pretty standard 'SWAT' type look of dark blues and blacks, but then I had a change of heart and decided to go for something a bit more garish and 'corporate security guard' like. It was only part way through painting that I realised that I may have been inspired by a similar colour scheme I'd come across many moons before...

Oops!

This was partly an experiment in painting in a slightly different style, to try and kick start my painting mojo. My usual painting style has pretty much evolved from a gaming background. Mostly I paint to complete units quickly and simply, so usually a black undercoat to provide shade, washes and basic highlights.

This time I decided to build up the highlights a bit more carefully. To brighten the colours, I started from a white undercoat, with a black wash to show up the detail and provide some base shading. It creates quite an interesting effect in itself, and almost black and white film look!

Overall I'm pretty pleased with how he turned out, especially the shading on the grey fatigues. Some more edge highlights on the jacket and skin might be good though.

I also have a handful of minis from Hasslefree undercoated and ready to go. I've got to say, Kev White at HF is a sculpting god! Here's one of his SF Troopers next to another Security Guard by Mark Copplestone. Interesting to compare the two very different styles of sculpting, one almost ultra-realisticly proportioned, the other deliberately simplified and exaggerated. I like them both, but Mark Copplestone's style is definitely less daunting to paint! It's the difference between a mars bar and a swiss chocolate, both are perfect for the right occasion ;-)